Worldcon 76, scheduled to be held in 2018 in San Jose, California, has announced the additions of artist John Picacio musician Frank Hayes to their list of Guests of Honor. Picacio and Hayes join previously announced guests Spider Robinson, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and Pierre & Sandy Pettinger. Worldcon 76 is also honoring tow “GOHsts of Honor,” Edgar Pangborn and Bob Wilkins. Worldcon 76 will take place in San Jose, California from August 16-20, 2018.For more information…

Worldcon 75 has announced the disqualification of a second Best Fan Artist nominee for the Hugo. Mansik Yang appeared on the original ballot, but has been determined not to have any qualifying work from 2016. Yang’s name has been removed from the ballot and replaced by Elizabeth Leggett. Yang, as with Alex Garner, who was previously determined to be ineligible, was part of the “Rabid Puppies” suggestions.

Collector Howard Frank (b.1941) died on May 1. Frank, along with his wife, Jane, was an avid fantasy art collector and co-authored two books with his wife based on their collection. When Jane was Guest of Honor at Chicon 7, she and Howard loaned pieced of their collection to the convention to exhibit. In 2013, he received First Fandom’s Sam Moskowitz Archive Award.

The nominees for the Gemmell Awards for fantasy have been announced. The Gemmell Awards are popularly voted awards. Anyone can vote by visiting the Gemmell Award website. The winners will be announced July 15, 2017 in a ceremony at Edge-Lit 6 in Derby, UK.

The Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novel

Wrath, by John Gwynne

Nevernight, by Jay Kristoff

The Wheel of Osheim, by Mark Lawrence

The Bands of Mourning, by Brandon Sanderson

Warbeast, by Gav Thorpe

The Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer

Infernal, by Mark de Jager

Duskfall, by Christopher Husberg

Steal the Sky, by Megan E. O’Keefe

Snakewood, by Adrian Selby

Hope and Red, by Jon Skovron

The Ravenheart Award for Best Fantasy Cover Art

Alessandro Baldaserroni for the cover of Black Rift, by by Josh Reynolds

Jason Chan for the cover of The Wheel of Osheim, by by Mark Lawrence

Sam Green for the cover of The Bands of Mourning, by by Brandon Sanderson

Animator Joe Harris (b.1928) died on March 26. In the 1050s, Harris worked drawing cartoon advertising mascots. In the late 1950s, he created the Trix Rabbit and came up with its tagline, “Silly rabbit! Trix are for kids.” Harris also drew Underdog, Tennessee Tuxedo, Klondike Kat, and other characters for Total TeleVision, which was created to help promote General Mills cereals.

Comic book artist Bernie Wrightson (b.1948) died on March 18 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. He began working as an illustrator for the Baltimore Sun in 1966 and the following year decided to go into comics after meeting Frank Frazetta. In 1968, he began doing freelance work for DC Comics. In 1971, Wrightson co-created Swamp Thing with Len Wein. He drew illustrations for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and more recently did the production design for the Reavers in the film Serenity.

The jury for Spectrum 23: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art has announced nominees in eight categories. The list was created by judges Christian Alzmann, Laurie Lee Brom, Mark Newman, Victo Ngai and John Picacio. Winners of the Gold and Silver Awards will be announced at the Spectrum 24 Awards Ceremony, held at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, MO on Saturday, April 22. The 2017 Spectrum Grand Master Award honoree will also be announced during the ceremony.

Artist Alan Aldridge (b.1943) died on February 17. Aldridge served as the art director for Penguin Books UK in the 1968s before creating his own graphic design firm. He did a lot of work on album covers and was also tied to the Beatles. Some of his science fiction art includes the Penguin cover for Harry Harrison’s Make Room! Make Room! as well as Steve Boyett’s The Gnole. His son is fashion photographer Miles Aldridge and his daughters are models Lily, Saffron, and Ruby Aldridge.